Alen Yen's ToyboxDX

	9.17.00 -- 9.23.00


RUMBLE INDEX

9.23.00: Rider Kick to the Head!

Soul of Popynika Cyclone ships TODAY!!!!!!

-- Darren

9.23.00: Mark Volk Gets Balls!

Well, GMs and Balls, that is. Yup, the MSiA GM/Ball set is in my grubby little hands, thanks to the fine folks at Hobbylink Japan. Robozone's got 'em, too.

While I'd like to say the GM's a great toy, he's only slightly above average, really. It's a great rendition of the "made to be blown up" peon Mobile Suit, but it suffers from the same pop-out shoulder sockets as the Gundam RX-78-2 does, and the skirt hampers hip mobility to boot. It does come with a beam saber, beam scattergun, shield, three extra hands, an 0083-style machingun, and a beam saber hilt for the pack (although mine is missing the hilt... darn you, Bandai!), so it's pretty well loaded for an MSiA... and you just NEED a few GMs to take fire from all your Zakus.

The gem of this set is the Ball, though. It's dead-on, in scale, and just about as articulated as you could hope a Ball could be. The manipulators are wonderfully done, and the pincers on the end even snap shut. The 180mm cannon on top can be rotated and inclined. Since it's only got two of the pesky polycap ball joints, it's virtually immune to the joint-pop problem.

Final verdict... this is a GREAT set for the money. It's only 1200 yen, and for that you get not only a decent GM but a great little Ball to display with it. The Zeta G MSiA is that much, and it's not half as cool as this set. With this out, my desire for the Kadoh-Senshi Chogokin GM is at a feverish level. Bring on the peons!

-- Mark Volk

9.23.00: Popynika Plus Overdose

Check out the FLOOD of Ultraman Popynica Plus toys from Bandai!

The SoundPlus Artdessei comes with two GUTS Wing 1 & 2, and plays the appropriate launching bay sound effects when either ship is placed in the hanger. GUTS WING, HASSHA!!!

ShigFighter EX & SS are out now, and GUTS Eagle is coming this month, while Jet Beetle, Ultra Hawk 1, and MAT Arrow 1 will be out next month! All 1,400 yen! All include a little pilot-guy!

Popynica: Some names never die!

-- Darren

9.21.00: 2001- AFFE Odyssey

It's toy related, so I think it's worth printing...

"ASIAN FANTASY FILM EXPO 2 will be invading the NYC area on June 15 & 16, 2001 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Saddle Brook, NJ (just 10 minutes outside Manhattan). It's the ultimate Asian giant monster & sci-fi event, featuring celebrity guests, film screenings, contests, a HUGE dealers room featuring the hottest Japanese sci-fi collectibles and lots more!

Last June's convention included: special guest appearances by Gamera series film director Shusuke Kaneko, special effects artist Fuyuki Shinada ("Godzilla vs. Biollante," "Gamera 3") and Nobuhiro Arai of Bandai Japan's character toy division; the North American premiere of "Dark Soldier D" and the first ever US event-exclusive kaiju vinyl figure from Bandai Japan.

Be sure to visit the official web site for updated info on AFFE 2, as well as photos and highlights from the convention this past summer."

The exclusive toy... the Bandai rep... it's all going to happen again!

-- Roger & Jim C.

9.21.00: No Perfect Change For You!

Another scoop from Mr. Facet, complete with a quote from Medicom:

Mr Facet: "Medicom was planning to release the Studio Half Eye Transformable Getter Robo, but that is now dead. I believe Studio Half Eye will just continue to make it on their own (supposition on my part)."

Medicom: "We try, but ...it is too difficult to manufacture. I appriciate you are interested in this Getter Robo. But this plan will be dropped."

-- Roger

9.21.00: Cyborg, Jr.!

In other Takara news, the not-so-beloved series of Shonen Cyborg figures, those 3/4 size "kid versions" of the Henshin Cyborg dolls, are going to be hitting she shelves any day now. And even better, they're releasing little "Satan King" and "Skull King" outfits to trick 'em out with! Check out Ginrai's review at www.masterforce.org site for the heads-up!

-- Matt

9.21.00: Man-oh-Microman

Are you a total MICROMANiac? Then chances are you've already got your order in for Takara's limited-edition Microman watch-and-figures playset. Guaranteed to impress the ladies, the watch features a lusciously pleather wristband and a Microman character on the face. The special M110 figure contained in the set is a repro of an old (and now tough to find) prize-toy that was given away with packs of bubblegum in a 1977 promotion, while the A384 Acroyear is an all-new repaint. C'mon -- you KNOW you need to strap this sucker on.

-- Matt

9.20.00: Tetsu Kyojin?!

The oddly named Toy'sworks, a new subsidiary of toy-monolith Bandai, plans on producing Japan-only Iron Giant products. First up are keyholders and cell-phone straps in September. Unimpressed? Well in October, they plan on producing a 10cm metal figurine. Still unimpressed? How about two vinyls in October?-- One 20cm tall and one a grand 43cm tall (and a polystone figure is also due in November, if anyone cares). But here's the whopper... they're also planning a monster 75cm tall "exhibition-model" of the big guy!

As one Japanese Iron Giant fan proclaimed, "the American toys are just so unsatisfying..."

-- Yappy

9.19.00: Micro Gunbaron

By combining parts from Yujin's SR gashapon Ganbaron figure, and a Toy 'R Us reproduction Microman, Chimitoys has created their custom "Moveable Ganbaron". The little guy looks so good, it's hard to tell he's a custom job.

Check out the handiwork for yourself. You can almost foresee a line of Micro Henshin Cyborg here...

-- Darren

9.19.00: Go Prototype Go!

For the past year and a half, I have been quietly planning my own SUPER ROBOT PROJECT. That is to say, my own customized, motorized, fist-firing, child-safety-nightmare-ish creation.

Needless to say, the prospect of a fuctioning diecast toy is a daunting one, and may give way to a simpler vinyl alternative. I started this project last year, got half way through, and then realized I needed to simplify my construction methods. So I have started a new prototype, and have alotted myself another six to ten months until it will be available.

I will probably do a small run first, see how the molds hold up, and then take it from there. Anyway here is a scan of one of the first ideas for the robot design. Any feedback on the ToyboxDX BBS would be much appreciated.

-- Josh Fraser

9.19.00: Daiya-Block

The "transforming Lego" fad, while still somewhat new in the US, has been around for some time in Japan. Daiya Block has delivered a modest offering of original modular, transforming robot sets lately. You might remember the "Neo Robot 1" picture floating around here a few months ago.

Japanese toy hunter NekoTom brings us pictures of three of their new sets: D-Head, D-Leon, and D-Ground. We've got the whole gambit here ... D-Head has a Diaclone feel, D-Leon looks like a Brave Series toy, and D-Ground looks like a Govarian/Srungle affair.

-- Darren

[Note: Nekotom overwrites his toy page whenever he gets new material. Be sure to click the link while it's still fresh!]

9.19.00: Mumbo Jumbo

Here's the news on the black Garada variant: It's being produced for an unspecified magazine as an exclusive. There's also the possibility that Diamond will be able to offer it, too. Keep your fingers crossed and remember that your dollar "votes" count!

When shown a picture of the original Popy Combattler Jumbo, UniFive had this to say: "Based on Popy Combattler V as your photo. We made up wax model at the morment." No details as to the release date or pricing as of yet.

-- Roger

9.19.00: Sausager Link

Ginrai writes in to tell us about his site, www.masterforce.org:

"I've seen stuff about Sausager... I mean, Sasuraiger, on your site before, so I when I bought a neat Sausager knock-off and posted about it on my website, I thought I'd let you know."

-- Yappy

9.18.00: Jumbo Love, American Style

It's the news every Jumbo-loving man, woman, child, and TBDX reader in America has been waiting for: All four of UniFive's Jumbo Machines (Mazinger-Z, Great Mazinger, Gaiking, Garada K7) are being offered for sale in the October issue of Diamond's Previews Magazine. The price, you ask? $120 (suggested retail price) each. As if that wasn't already enough, UniFive's Mach 5 Shin-Gokin will be offered for $99. I'm told this piece has to be seen to be believed. All items are scheduled to ship in February 2001.

Also, an interesting tidbit: despite the fact that the original toys were referred to as "Jumbo Machinders", this term is actually copyrighted by someone, so UniFive has to call them "Jumbo Machines".

Thanks again to "Mr. Facet" for the scoop. No news on that Garada variant, yet, but as soon as clarification comes in you'll read it here first!

-- Roger

9.17.00: Action Gettas Go!

I love 'em. Getta One, Two, and Three. Great likenesses to the animated versions for all three. Gettas One and Two are both about a half inch shorter than their Action Gokin big brothers Dragun and Ryger (about 5 inches tall, these guys) making for a great looking Getter evolution display. Getta Three? Well, I couldn't compare him to Poseidon, since there IS NO ACTION GOKIN POSEIDON. Curse you Banpresto!

Paint jobs on all three are flawless. Diecast content is satisfying. Getta One and Two have a diecast lower torso and legs; both of their upper torsos(the chest parts w/the Getta Machine cockpits) are plastic. Getta One comes with a removable cape/Getta Wing and two tomahawks. Getta Two has a working right clamp. Getta Three's treads and "Jaguar" component are plastic, as are his arms. His torso is diecast. No accessories for him.

The most articulated of the bunch? Surprisingly, it's Three. Why? Well, the only articulation the animated version had was treads and arms. The AG version comes pretty close to that.

-- Analyst

9.17.00: SATAN!

I have a new Mechaman up!

-- Roger

9.17.00: Mach Mania

Speed Racer is "in" in Japan. If the UniFive diecast variety Mach 5 doesn't grab you, perhaps the remote controlled variety will. Imai's R/C Mach 5 is out and selling for about Y2,500. The Mach 5's body is plastic, and you assemble it yourself. Included is a small statue of Speed (Go Mifune) himself!

-- Darren

9.17.00: Validation in the Eyes of the Cognoscenti Redux

The October all-robot issue of I.D. - The International Design Magazine features GA-42 Robodeki on the cover and a 2-page interview with Thomas Geismar. Who? Well, Geismar's not only a well-respected designer/architect, but also a tin and gokin collector. The article might be a bit on the fluffy side for the usual die-hard ToyboxDX reader, but it represents a huge leap forward in the "justification" of our collective obsessive-compulsive disorder.

-- Yappy

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